With Jets HC Robert Saleh holding out 31 players -- including CBs Sauce Gardner, D.J. Reed and Michael Carter II – in his team's 15-12 preseason victory over the Panthers, rookie CB Qwan'tez Stiggers and several reserve defensive back took the opportunity to show what they can do early before rookie corner Brandon Codrington put on a return show in the third quarter.

Stiggers, a sixth-round pick from the CFL; Brandin Echols, in his fourth season; and second-year man Jarrick Bernard-Converse combined for 9 defensive tackles over the Panthers' first two series (12 plays) in the first quarter of the Green & White's second preseason game, against Carolina at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday night.

"There's good depth in that room," HC Robert Saleh said of the defensive backs. "Once Michael Carter [ankle] gets back, we think it's one of the better DB rooms in football."

Stiggers showed impressive speed on a play that was ultimately nullified on a penalty when he sprinted across the field to take down Jonathan Mingo after a 21-yard catch-and-run. In the quarter, Stiggers had a pair of tackles and was quick and aggressive throughout. One of Echols' four stops was a takedown of Mingo that resulted in a 4-yard loss.

"He just has this really unique mindset, this really uncommon maturity for a young guy," defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich said about Stiggers on Thursday. "No moment seems too big for this young man, ever. He has just this uncommon poise, maturity, it is like he is wise beyond his years. It is really cool to see him develop, really start to learn our defense, and really learn to play this position."

On special teams in the second stanza, Stiggers got in great position on punt coverage and sent a blocker flying into fair-catcher David Moore.

Bernard-Converse, who has impressed throughout training camp as he comes back from a foot injury that limited him to 8 games in his rookie season, had an active first quarter. He led the defense with 4 tackles but later exited the game with a groin ailment.

"Every day he's building his database, whether he wins or loses he's just building this library of information in his brain," Ulbrich said about Bernard-Converse. "It's so cool to see because he's a very cerebral player, he's very intelligent, but at the same time corner is semi-new to him, he dabbled in it at Oklahoma State and at LSU, but just to see him start to stack really solid days is exciting."

To start the third quarter, Codrington, a North Carolina Central product, blazed for a 63-yard kick return and celebrated a happy homecoming to Carolina. Then following a 15-yard punt return, Codrington refused to go down while breaking tackles and cutting back up the Jets' sideline for a dazzling 31-yard punt return to close the quarter.

"Definitely seized his opportunities," Saleh said of Codrington. "God, I think for both teams he was the most productive (player). He set up a couple of scoring drives, but that's what he's here for. That's why we brought him in – his punt return and kick return ability – and I thought he did a really nice job today."